To place search terms in Shopify, edit titles, descriptions, URLs, alt text, and on-page copy across products, collections, pages, and posts.
Done right, search phrases help shoppers land on the exact product they want. This guide shows where to place phrases inside Shopify, how to map terms to pages, and what to write so results draw clicks. You’ll get clear, hands-on steps you can follow today, plus a repeatable workflow you can use for every new item you add.
What “Keywords” Mean In Shopify
When folks say keywords, they usually mean the search terms a buyer types into Google. Inside your store, those terms live in plain language: in titles, in body copy, in the short page summary, in image alt text, and in URL handles. You don’t need a magic field named “keywords.” You need clear phrasing in the places search engines read and shoppers see.
Think of each page as a match for one main query and a few close variations. A product page might target the model name plus color and size. A collection might target the category term plus a qualifier like “for men” or “for travel.” A blog post can answer a common question that brings buyers who are still comparing options.
Where To Place Search Terms In Shopify
Every core page type in Shopify lets you edit the fields that search engines use to index and show your content. Here’s a quick map of the high-impact spots and how to reach them in the admin.
| Location | How To Edit | Keyword Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Page Title | Open any product, collection, page, or blog post and use the title field at the top. | Lead with the main phrase and a clear descriptor buyers expect. |
| Body Content | Use the rich text editor on each page type. | Write for buyers first; answer specs, sizing, materials, fit, and use cases. |
| Search Engine Listing | Scroll to “Search engine listing preview” and click Edit. | Set a concise page title tag and write a compelling meta description. |
| URL And Handle | In the same “Search engine listing” area, set a short, human-readable handle. | Use plain words with hyphens; keep it short and descriptive. |
| Images (Alt Text) | Open the media item, click “Edit alt text.” | Describe the image in natural language; include model or variant names when relevant. |
| Collections | Edit the collection title, description, image alt text, and listing settings. | Explain who the collection is for and what’s inside using buyer language. |
| Blog Posts | Create posts that answer real shopper questions. | Target how-to guides, sizing help, care tips, or comparisons that link to products. |
Adding Search Phrases In Your Shopify Store: Step-By-Step
Step 1: Choose A Primary Term For Each Page
Pick one main query for the page you’re editing. Use wording that a buyer would type. For a product, include brand or model plus a trait that matters at purchase time. For a collection, match the category term shoppers already use. For a post, choose a question you can answer with authority and link to items that fit.
Step 2: Shape The Title
Put the main term at the front of the title field and add a short qualifier. Keep it readable and specific. Avoid stuffing. If your theme also prints the brand, you don’t need to repeat it in every title.
Step 3: Write The Meta Description
Use the “Search engine listing” area on the page to write a short pitch for searchers. Tell them what they’ll see, mention a key benefit or spec, and invite the click. Keep it concise on mobile. Google may rewrite it, but a strong draft still helps earn clicks. For best-practice guidance, see Shopify’s page on improving SEO and Google’s notes on writing meta descriptions.
Step 4: Tune The URL Handle
Short, descriptive, and stable wins. Use hyphens, avoid dates, and skip filler words. If you must change a handle, add a redirect so old links keep working.
Step 5: Add Natural Language In Body Copy
Write helpful paragraphs that mirror how buyers think and speak. Cover specs, materials, sizing, warranties, and care. Use bullets where it helps scan-reading. Mention the main phrase naturally a few times. Sprinkle close terms people use as they compare options.
Step 6: Describe Images With Alt Text
Alt text helps shoppers using screen readers and gives search engines context. Describe what’s in the photo. If a detail matters—like “red 20-oz steel bottle with straw lid”—say it. Skip stuffing; clarity beats repetition.
Step 7: Interlink Where It Helps Buyers
Link related items, size guides, care pages, and helpful posts. This keeps shoppers moving and helps search engines map your site. Use short, descriptive anchors like “size guide” or “care instructions,” not “click here.”
Before And After Examples You Can Copy
Product Title
Weak: Bottle 20oz — Model 1234.
Stronger: Insulated Stainless Bottle 20-oz — Straw Lid.
Meta Description
Weak: Great bottle at a great price.
Stronger: Keep drinks cold for 24 hours. 20-oz steel bottle with straw lid, fits cup holders. Free returns.
Alt Text
Weak: IMG_2048.jpg
Stronger: Red 20-oz stainless bottle with straw lid on desk.
Avoid Old Myths About “Meta Keywords”
You don’t need a meta keywords tag. Search engines ignore it, and stuffing it with terms won’t help. Spend your time on titles, content, alt text, and internal links—the parts that serve readers and help pages get chosen for queries.
Map Terms To Templates So You Don’t Compete With Yourself
In a store with many pages, it’s easy to aim several URLs at the same query. That splits link equity and confuses buyers. Assign one main query per template, then let close pages chase long-tail versions. The table below gives a simple map you can reuse across your site.
| Template | Main Query Goal | Example Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Homepage | Brand + flagship category | Acme Bags & Travel Gear |
| Collection | Category + qualifier | Carry-On Suitcases For 22-Inch Bins |
| Product | Model + key trait | Acme Jet 40L Hardside Spinner |
| Blog Post | Question or how-to with buying angle | Carry-On Size Rules By Airline |
| Size Guide Page | Help query + brand | Acme Backpack Sizing Guide |
| Care Page | Care task + item | How To Clean Polycarbonate Luggage |
Craft Content That Matches Buyer Intent
For Products
Lead with the name and must-know traits. Add a short benefit line that maps to the main use case. Follow with specs, materials, dimensions, fit, and care. Answer common doubts: returns, warranty, shipping speed, and what’s in the box.
For Collections
Write two or three short paragraphs above the grid. Explain who the range is for, what sets it apart, and how to pick. Add anchor links to key filters if your theme allows. Keep it clear and scannable.
For Posts
Choose questions that real buyers ask before they decide. Give a straight answer near the top, then show steps, checks, or a comparison. Link to the items that match the outcome a reader wants.
Use Synonyms And Close Variants Naturally
Searchers use different terms for the same need. Use plain variants that fit the page without padding. If your main term is “stainless water bottle,” you might also use “steel bottle,” “insulated 20-oz bottle,” or “dishwasher safe bottle” where it makes sense. The mix should read like a human wrote it.
Speed, Structure, And Image Hygiene Help Pages Get Chosen
Search engines favor pages that load fast and are easy to read on a phone. Keep image sizes reasonable, write short paragraphs, and avoid pop-ups that block content. Add descriptive alt text to media. Keep one clear date on posts if your theme shows dates. Use the right schema type via your plugin or theme settings.
Admin Walkthroughs For Each Page Type
Products
From the admin, go to Products and open an item. Write a clear title with the model and key trait. In the description box, add two or three short sections: a one-line pitch, a spec block, and a care note. Scroll to the listing preview and click Edit to set the title tag, meta description, and handle. Open each image and write descriptive alt text that matches the variant shown.
Collections
Open a collection and add a short intro above the grid. Mention who this range suits and how to choose. In the listing settings, write a concise title tag and a meta description that promises what the shopper will find. Keep the handle short and stable. If the theme offers blocks for size or color notes, fill them with plain language.
Pages
For size guides, care pages, and brand story pages, write headings that match searcher language. Use short sections with anchors if the page is long. Set the listing fields so the snippet promises help and names the item type. Link back to the items those pages serve.
Blog Posts
Create helpful posts that answer buyer questions with clear steps or checklists. Place a short answer near the top, then back it up with detail. Add product blocks only where they fit the solution. Set the title tag and description to match the reader’s goal.
Keyword Research In Ten Minutes
Start with your catalog and the way customers talk. Pull terms from site search, the customer inbox, and reviews. Type a seed term into Google and watch auto-suggest for phrasing buyers use. Check the pages already ranking and note the wording they use in titles. You don’t need fancy tools to pick a clean main term and a few close variants for each page.
- Pick one buyer-ready term for each product.
- Pick a category term with a qualifier for each collection.
- Pick a clear question for each post and answer it near the top.
Handle Changes And Redirects
When you change a handle, create a redirect from the old path to the new one. This keeps links and shares alive and prevents shoppers from hitting a dead page. Keep handles human-readable, use hyphens, and avoid date stamps that will age out and force more redirects later.
Template-Level Rules You Can Set In Ten Minutes
- Keep titles under about 60 characters and lead with the query.
- Write meta descriptions that read like a clear pitch on small screens.
- Use short, stable handles with hyphens and plain words.
- Add alt text to every media item when you upload it.
- Link sideways to related items and up to the right collection.
- Keep one main query per page; send variants to nearby pages.
Simple Workflow You Can Repeat
1) Research
Start with your product catalog and shopper language. Pull terms from site search, the customer inbox, and reviews. Check auto-suggest in Google to find phrasing people use. Pick the main query and two or three solid variants for each page.
2) Draft
Write the title and meta description first so your angle is clear. Then draft the body copy and image alt text. Keep the tone friendly, not salesy.
3) Publish
Set the URL handle, add redirects if anything changed, and publish. Test on mobile. Skim the page like a shopper: can you find price, sizing, and carts quickly?
4) Measure
Use Search Console to see queries that trigger impressions. Track click-through rate on titles you change. If a page ranks but draws weak clicks, rewrite the snippet text to better match intent.
5) Refresh
Revisit winners a few times a year. Update specs, swap stale photos, and expand short sections that leave buyers guessing. Keep facts current and pages tidy.
FAQ-Style Content Without A Formal FAQ Block
You don’t need an accordion full of micro-questions. Instead, add a short section that clears up common doubts in normal paragraphs: ship times, returns, fit, and care. This keeps the page clean and still answers the questions that stop buyers from pressing “add to cart.”
Quick Mistakes To Avoid
- Stuffing the same term into every field.
- Thin product pages with only a sentence or two.
- Handles that change with every sale or season.
- Huge image files with no alt text.
- Dozens of near-duplicate pages chasing the same query.
- Pop-ups that block shoppers from reading the first screen.
Proof You’re On The Right Track
Within a few weeks, you should see more queries in your Search Console report, longer average time on key pages, and steadier clicks on collection and product links. Keep refining titles based on the terms that send buyers, not just browsers.
One Last Push: Make Internal Links Work Hard
Add links from blog posts to top collections and bestsellers using anchor text that matches the buyer’s goal. From products, link up to the right collection and across to related items. From size and care pages, link back to the items those pages serve. This clusters related pages so search engines can see that your store is the best match for those needs.